Lamp control device



June 7, Q ERSON LAMP CONTROL DEVI CE Original Filed April 14, 1930 mounts a lamp bulb 9 in the usual manner is located in the focal zone'of the reflector Patented June 7, 1932 Tv CLARENCE L. PATTERSON, OF CINCINNATI,

PAT-Er OFFICE onro, AssIeNonro THE INTERNATIONAL Y .MAN UFACTURIN G COMPANY, OF CINCINNATI, OHIO, A CORPORATION OF OHIO LAMP CONTROL DEVICE Application filed April 14, 1930, Serial An object of my invention isto produce a device whereby redirection or control of the rays of light projected from an automobile lamp for purposes of'preventing the glare orblinding =beam ofli'ght which meets the driver of an approaching vehicle, is accomplished in an unique manner radically dif- 'ferent from established custom, in that the use of two filament bulbs and special circuits, resistances and the like is rendered iumecessary. I

A- further object is to produce such a device as will cause redirection of light rays without having to resort to the alternate illumination of separate bulb filaments for such a purpose.

These and other objects are attained in the lamp control device now to be described.

In the drawing, Fig. 1 is a somewhat diagrammatic view embodying aform of my invention, the reflector and other parts being shown in section for clearness of illustration. I Fig.2 is an enlarged perspective view showing an important element of my invention with apart broken away for purposes of illustration. 7 a

Fig. 3 is a diagrammatic View showing a circuit incorporating the invention I will now describe.

Fig, 4 is a modification of my invention. I IhaveshoWn a reflector 6, which is shown fragmentally and in section, equipped with a central opening in which is clinched a col- 'lar 7 adapted to mount a connector tube 8 in a manner to be explained. This connector 7 so that 'itsfilament will be located for position in the focal zone of the reflector as shown in full lines in Fig. 1. Reflector collar 7 is provided with ears 10 which may have a bayonet-slot 11 in each, tomount a pivot pin 12 on each side of the connector in order that the connector may be moved pivotally thereon within the opening of collar 7. Lug 13 on the collar limits the downward movement of bulb 9 to a position in which the filament 15 tilting movement of the connector so that the bulb filament will not be permitted to No. 444,103. .Renewed. April 23, 1932.

pass beyond the dotted line position shown in Fig. 1. In the full line position of the bulb, filament, connector, and associated. parts, the beam projected bythe lamp reflector takes the direction indicate'd 'by the forwardly projecting substantially parallel full lines 16 and 17 which represent typical rays of such a beam. In the dotted line position of the bulb, the beam projected takes the direction indicated by the spreading and downwardlyinclined dotted lines 18 and 19 Which represent typical rays of such a :beam.

-To accomplish thistilting movement of the bulb, I have provided a'finger 20 extending to the rear of the connector, which is connected by a rivet or other suitable connection, with the rear end of a thermostatic device 21, the opposite end of this device being similarly connected with a lug 22 extending from refiector collar 7 This thermostatic device is of simple construction and consists merely in laminations 23 and 24 of different metals which may be either basic or are alloys. The

characteristics of these metals are such that the metal of lamina 23 will expand, when subjected to heat, relatively rapidly as compared to the rate of expansion of the metal of lamina 2 1. The result of this reaction to heat is to cause'the lamina 23 to lengthen'much more rapidly than does'lamina 24. 7 Thus, when the ends are held together as shown in Fig. 1, there will occur astraightening movement tending to cause it to assume some such slope as shown in dotted lines. This, therefore, causes the tilting of the bulb, as shown, so that the filament is moved from the full line position to the dotted line position shown, thus causing a change in beam from the full line beam, disclosed at 16 and 17 ,to the dotted line beam shown at 18 and 19.

Now, all that remains isto provide a convenient means by which the thermostatic element may be heated. This is readilyraccom plished by merely passing an electric current directly through the metal of the thermostat, provided such material is of correct resistance to produce the desired heating effect,

or by means of a layer or coil of resistance wire 25 which, in the illustrated embodiment,

is superposed on lamina 23. I hold this. layer a of wire in position preferably by means of a covering of mica or other insulating material 26, thereby also protecting the resistance wire against possible damage,

If this wire is connected in a suitable circuit designed to permit control of the lamp,

battery 27 as the source of energy, as well as two lamp bulbs 28 and 29, which are to be controlled. 'A switch 30, which will be described, is'provided for controlling the illumination of'the lamp filaments and the functioningof thethermostatic devices 31 and 32. In the typeof lamp bulbs illustrated diagrammatically, each has two filaments and 34, 33.:beinga relatively high candle power filament and 34 a low candle power filament. The filament-34 of each bulb, is employed only'w-hen'the vehicleis standing still and does not enter directly into. the invention herein set forth, but, nevertheless, is dis- .closed for purposes of showing the adaptability of my invention to bulb equipment of this type. In the embodied circuit connections of Fig. .3, I have disclosed switch asv-a three contact switch, merely for purposes of illustration, it being understood that I may as-readilyemploy separate switches in lieu thereof, or that I may arrange for partial footor hand control of such switches, or that the operation of such switches may be made entirely by hand or entirely by foot. .I have shown a system of connections in which one pole of the battery is grounded to theframe of the vehicle and in which one terminal of each of the filaments is also grounded, thus providing the return-circuit connections. :From the opposite pole of the battery Iprovide a connection 35 to the common terminal 36 of the switch. The remaining terminals 37, 38-and 39 are connected with the filaments 33 and 34 as follows. First, I will dispose ofthe connection with filament 34 of each lamp. This is merely accomplished by a wire 40 which is branched to connect terminal 37 of the switch with one terminal of each of the filaments 34, as shown, the opposite terminal of each filament 34 being connected with the ground by a wire 41. Terminal 38 of switch .30 is connected with one terminal of each of the thermostatic control devices 31 and 32 by a branched wire nection-with the filament as shown in the modification disclosed in- Fig. 4. Finally, in

orderthat switch connection 39 may be placed the car.

in the circuit in the manner intended, a branched wire 44 is led to and connected directly with the ungrounded terminal of each filament 33.

The operation of my improved device is roads, it is desirable that the head lamp illumination be somewhatdiflused and less penetrating so thatthe blinding glare which often is experienced in passing Imotor vehicles-is completely avoided without inany manner operating to diminish the .intensity-ot-the light. This I is accomplished by operating switch 30 to close the circuit through contact 38. Thus, the current 'passesthrou'gh wire 42, through thermostatic devices 31 and 32, through filaments 33, and. through the ground backto thebattery. :The effect of this is to illuminate filaments 33 with full brilliancy and, simultaneously therewith, to cause devices 31 ;and"32 to-becomehot and thereby-cause the thermostat 21 ofeachhead lamp to aifect a 'tiltingof each bulb from a position such as shown in full linesin-Fig. l, to a position such as shown' in 'dottedlines. This is caused by a relative expansion of the metals 23 and 24 of each thermostat. ,Should it be that-the parallelconnection ofthermostatic devices and bulb filament as shown in Fig.4, be embodied in lieu of the .series'connection shown in Fig. 1, the operation of thermostat and filamentwillbethesame, and

the dilfused light thus resulting will be of full brilliancy with illumination ofthe roadway and without the blinding brilliance of illumination which characterizes." a. beamof light projected from a filament located in the focal zone of the reflector. Whentthezlvehicle driver has reached a clear-.ancl-jopen stretch of roadway, he needs a beam oflight of high power'and which will operate; to pierce the darkness at a great distance from This is produced by movingthe switch to close the circuit between contacts 36 and 39. In this manner the thermostatic devices are disconnected and the circuit is established directly through branche'dtwire 44,v through wires 43, and. through filaments 33 to the'return'circuitjthroughthe -gound. In such aconditionthe thermostatic-devices, being cool, maintain the bulb filaments directly in the focal .ZOI16,L1.S shown inFig; 1,

thus producing the straight-ahead .1 beam shown in full lines in Fig. 1.'

'"It is obvious that many modifications may be made in the form .of thermostaticzdevice employed, and that it may. :beavariously: connected. with the lamp-bulb, connecton'areflector, or lamp body, and that, furthermore,

the movement of these parts may be accomplished pivotally or otherwise, as best befits the preference of the designer, without departing from the spirit and scope of my invention as set forth in the appended claims.

Although I have described my invention as having been applied, by way of example, to the lamp bulb directly, it is obvious that it may as readily be applied to the reflector in order to move it instead of the bulb, or that it may as readily be employed to move the reflector and bulb as a unit in order to bring about a redirection of the beam of light. Developing this thought of moving the reflector and bulb as a unit, it is obvious that the same function may be accomplished by connecting the thermostat and its operating circuit with a lamp which, in its entirety, is pivotally mounted for and capable of producing the results which have been described.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim is:

1. A lamp control device comprising in combination with a lamp containing a reflector, and a lamp bulb therein movable to ositions into or out of the focal zone 0 the reflector, a thermostat mounted on a relatively fixed element of the lamp and connected with the bulb, adapted when heated to move the bulb from one of its positions to the other, and means controlling the ap lication of heat to the thermostat, adapted to cause the bulb to be moved when desired.

2. A lamp control device comprising in combination with a lamp containing a reflector, and a lamp bulb movable therein to bring its filament into or out of the focal zone of the reflector, a thermostat mounted on a relatively fixed element of the lamp, and connected with the bulb, adapted when heated to move the bulb from one of its positions to the other, an electric heater adapted to function the thermostat, and a controllable circuit to control the heater.

3. A lamp control device comprising in combination with a lamp containing a reflector and a lamp bulb pivotally mounted therein for movement from a position in which its filament occupies the focal zone of the reflector, to a position out of the focal zone, a thermostat consisting of a structure of laminated materials having difierent rates of expansion under heat, said thermostat being mounted on a relatively fixed element of the lamp and connected with the bulb to move it when it is heated, an electric heater to heat the thermostat, a circuit connecting the heater and the filament of the bulb, and means to control the circuit to function the filament individually or the filament and heater jointly.

In testimony whereof I hereunto aiiix my signature.

CLARENCE L. PATTERSON. 

